---
title: "UN chief proposes slashing 2026 budget by $577 million, cutting 18% of jobs"
description: "UNITED NATIONS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday formally proposed slashing the core U.N. budget for next year by $577 million and cutting more than 18% of jobs."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "World"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters-dailymaverick-co-za/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-12-02-un-chief-proposes-slashing-2026-budget-by-577-million-cutting-18-of-jobs/"
published: "2025-12-02T04:22:50"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 276
---

# UN chief proposes slashing 2026 budget by $577 million, cutting 18% of jobs

> UNITED NATIONS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday formally proposed slashing the core U.N. budget for next year by $577 million and cutting more than 18% of jobs.

By Reuters · Published 2 December 2025, 06:22 SAST

## Content

By Michelle Nichols

Guterres is seeking ways to improve efficiency and cut costs as the world body turns 80 this year amid a cash crisis, driven largely by U.S. arrears.

"We ended 2024 with $760 million in arrears, of which $709 million is still outstanding from 2024. We have also not received $877 million of 2025 dues and so thus, arrears now stand at $1,586 million," Guterres told the 193-member U.N. General Assembly budget committee.

He proposed a core budget of $3.238 billion for 2026, a reduction of 15% compared with this year. That budget includes political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic, social affairs and communications work. Contributions to most U.N. agencies, funds and programs - such as the World Food Programme and children's group UNICEF - are voluntary.

"Liquidity remains fragile, and this challenge will persist regardless of the final budget approved by the General Assembly – given the unacceptable volume of arrears," Guterres said.

The United States is the top contributor to the U.N. core budget, paying the maximum 22% according to assessments agreed upon by the General Assembly. U.S. President Donald Trump has described the U.N. as having "[great potential"](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3OH00T&linkedFromStory=true) but said it is [not fulfilling](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL2N3VA0JO&linkedFromStory=true) that. He wants to slash U.S. funding.

Guterres launched a [reform task force](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3PU1D7&linkedFromStory=true) in March, known as UN80, which seeks to cut costs and improve efficiency.

U.N. peacekeeping has a separate budget. In October, senior U.N. officials said a [quarter of peacekeepers](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3TC0C3&linkedFromStory=true) in nine operations around the world would be cut due to a lack of money and as future funding from the United States remains uncertain.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols at United Nations; Editing by Matthew Lewis)